Poly(tetramethylene glyc.ol) having a narrow molecular
weight distribution and its manufacture



DEFENSIVE PUBLICATION UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Published at the request of the applicant or owner in accordance with the Notice of Dec. 16, 1969, 869 0.G. 687. The abstracts of Defensive Publication applications are identified by distinctly numbered series and are arranged chronologically. The heading of each abstract indicates the number of pages of specification, including claims and sheets of drawings contained in the application as originally filed. The files of these applications are available to the public for inspection and reproduction may be purchased for 30 cents a sheet.

Defensive Publication applications have not been examined as to the merits of alleged invention. The Patent Office makes no assertion as to the novelty of the disclosed subject matter.

PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 8, 1970 POLY(TETRAMETHYLENE GLYCOL) HAVING A NARROW MOLECULAR WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION AND ITS MANUFACTURE William H. Seatou, Theodore E. Stanin, and Robert E.

Gee, Jr., all of R0. Box 511, Kingsport, Tenn. 37662 Continuation of application Ser. No. 822,832, Apr. 9,

1969, which is a continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 627,558, Mar. 31, 1967, which, in turn, is a continuation of application Ser. No. 239,684, Nov. 23,

1962. This application Dec. 22, 1969, Ser. No. 883,666

Int. Cl. C07c 43/00 US. Cl. 260--615 2 Sheets Drawing. 23 Pages Specification Poly(tetramethylene glycol) compositions having a number-average molecular weight of 1,000 to 6,000 can be prepared by a process which comprises (1) continuously polymerizing tetrahydrofuran at a temperature from about 20 to about 65 C. Within from 2 to 60 minutes in the presence of Lewis acids and (2) terminating the polymerization reaction before equilibrium is attained, that is, before the relative amounts of monomer and polymer in the reacting solution become constant at a definite temperature and pressure. The resulting polymeric compositions are characterized in having a narrow molecular weight distribution. The poly(tetramethylene glycol) compositions having a narrow molecular weight distribution which are produced according to the disclosed process are particularly valuable as glycol constituents in the production of elastomeric polyesters.

INHERENT VISCOSITY OF POLYTETRAMETHYLENE GLYCOL Sept. 8, 1970 w. H. SEATON ET AL POLYITETRAMETHYLENE GLYC OL) HAVING A NARROW MOLECULAR WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION AND ITS MANUFACTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed April 9, 1969 IOOO 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 NUMBER-AVERAGE MOLECULAR WEIGHT, M

THEODORE E. STANIN WILLIAM H. SEATON ROBERT E. GEE INVENTORS FIG? ATTORNEY m 179 w. H. SEATON ETAL POLY(TETRAMETHYLENE GLYCOL) HAVING A NARROW MOLECULAR WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION AND ITS MANUFACTURE Original Filed April 9, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 QQOw n m Km 5 W o. ON T on 2 

